Cessna 182 accident near Kelleys Island, Ohio, February 20, 2009
On February 20, 2009 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N3710D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Kelleys Island, Ohio (Kelleys Island Land Field Airp). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while landing in gusty winds due to inadequate aileron cable tension.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 2009 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kelleys Island, Ohio · Kelleys Island Land Field Airp · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 A · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N3710D · registry record · serial 34410
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot executed a normal approach to runway 27 in gusty wind conditions. During the landing flare, the airplane encountered a wind gust from the left and the airplane veered to the right and the right wing tip struck the runway. While airborne, the pilot increased the engine throttle in an attempt to recover; however, the airplane then veered to the left. Subsequently, the airplane's nose landing gear impacted terrain adjacent to the runway and collapsed. The airplane skidded across the runway and came to rest upright. The pilot reported that the wind was from 290 degrees at 15 to 20 knots, gusting 25 to 30 knots. During an examination of the airplane's flight control system, the aileron cable tension was found to be inadequate. The reason for the inadequate aileron cable tension was not determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Aileron control system › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,144 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 2,181 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 31, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,558 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 20, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PCW Port Clinton OH at 3:45 pm
- Destination: 89D Kelleys Island OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 18°F (-8°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:00 pm from PCW, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.